New In Skincare | June 2017

Call me a bad beauty blogger but despite my new found love for ALDI and recently discovering their eye cream I had not heard the hype around Lacura Hot Cloth Cleanser which is being touted as a Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish dupe.

Luckily on my recent weekly shop I saw it on the shelves and for £3.99 it was mine; so first up it's significantly cheaper than Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and I already consider that to be not too badly priced compared to other brands.

You'll find the packaging and many other similarities to Liz Earle from the colour palette to it's inclusion of a muslin cloth. Designed for 'all skin types' the Lacura Hot Cleanser states it 'gently cleanses and exfoliates to leave skin feeling soft and smooth' and with ingredients almost identical is 'skincare with cocoa butter and eucalyptus oil and extracts of chamomile, rosemary and white tea'.

I have to say I'd be hard pushed to identify which is which in a blind test and I'm thinking if there are any more left when I do my next food shop I need to stock up.

Other products I've been adding to my skincare regime in recent months include other high street offerings; B. Lifted Contouring Cream* and Optimum PhytoFreeze Ice Wine Eye Cream* both available from Superdrug.

I'm somewhat bemused by the name of the B. Lifted Contouring Cream*, contouring is so heavily focused on make up it was strange to see it as the name of a skincare product but it's premise is that it is 'like a yoga work out for your skin' as it delivers an instant tightening effect.

I can't say whether it's my contouring cream or dabbles with contouring of the cosmetic kind but I do feel like my face is perhaps looking 'slimmer' but that could be placebo in effect but I'm not finding any more lines on my face and don't find those I do have are any more evident.

Word of warning that is a strong scent I find from B. Lifted Contouring Cream* that may irritate or offend some. There is no smell from Optimum PhytoFreeze Ice Wine Eye Cream* and anything that helps to tighten the fine lines around my eyes I'm a fan of which is thanks to an ingredient called Vin-upLift based on premium Swiss Ice Wine produced from naturally frozen ripe grapes - so am I taking my love of wine too far?

There is a familiar metal applicator, the type I'm generally not a fan of and whilst for me I don't believe it allows for easy distribution and application of the product it has a lovely cooling effect to wake me up in the morning and soothe hayfever eyes.

Interestingly I've actually forgot to apply concealer under my eyes on one or two occasions this week and I don't feel like I've missed it. Of course the dark circles do peek through but they're certainly not as bad as they have been and this is from someone only a month back into work and having to wake to an alarm.

I could list all the various ingredients and what they do but it's somewhat unnecessary as I can simply tell you that using this cream has certainly perked up my eye area, again I'm not suggesting my fine lines have disappeared but they are certainly less noticeable and I find that it's very hydrating even after a day sitting at a computer.

As the Summer makes it's appearance you will have seen my dabbles with fake tan but I have always steered away from facial tanning until Solait Gradual Facial Tan* arrived at my door. I have tried this on a couple of occasions and it definitely adds colour to the face and gives the 'sunkissed' appearance come morning but it's not something I'm a big fan of.

I found this really drying and of an evening I'm more interesting in applying my various oils and serums as part of my nightly regime than waking up with a tanned face. As it contains glycerin I thought I'd try using in the mornings by way of a primer and allowing the colour to come through during the day and it didn't work too badly but it's just not a step I'm interested in. As I say with applying so many other products I'm removing every bit I apply so it's a little bit of pointless exercise but it's worth having in my stash if I'm in desperate need of some colour in my face.

What skincare products have you found on the high street recently?

*post contains press samples and affiliate links

New In Make Up | June 2017

There has been a lot of make up coming way this month so today I wanted to start with a few pieces that have mixed results, starting with the GOSH Contour'n Strobe Kit* in Light. I'm new to the GOSH brand and the Contour'n Strobe Kit has been a great place to start.

My first impressions on receiving this quad were that the highlighter was a little too subtle and the blush lacking in to make it something I would reach for often - how wrong I was. This is the perfect pick up and go palette when I'm over running for work and want to have a full face of make up without hunting out individual products.

The highlighter is subtle, but not that it goes unnoticed but balances well for office wear and the blush is in the same ilk as Wet n Wild's Rose Champagne and Milani's Luminoso in that that add something to the cheeks but compliment my often worn red lip perfectly.

I'm not really one for contouring and tend to swirl my brush in the two shades and warm up my face as I see fit but the option is there should I need it. I must also give a nod to the size of each of the four pans. So often palettes of this type can have tiny pans which means you can barely run an eyeshadow brush across them.

All the four powders have a silky texture with no dustiness meaning the shades aren't in danger of mixing, in fact despite it's use I think it's one of my cleanest looks palettes. I'm still struggling to not reach for this daily and show some love to other products but when something appeals to my laziness whilst delivering what can I do. 

I'm already earmarking this as perfect for my trip to Florida later in the year. Knowing that I will be making a few purchases on the trip I want to travel as minimally as possible where my cosmetics are concerned this would be perfect as well as working for what I expect will be a daily red lip.

There was much excitement when Sleek's Distorted Dreams collection* arrived with the comment 'oh I like Sleek' from my sister in law and my niece demanding that I put some on her which is why I broke the bloggers cardinal role and you will see one of the pans has a finger swipe in it before I was able to photograph.

Unfortunately my excitement didn't match theirs but I must stress I think my age and making peace with my lifestyle means that the current trend for metallics and holographics is not really one for me although I did have some fun playing with it.

First up is the Sleek Make Up Distorted Dreams Highlighting Palette* which is just something that will not work for my mature skin and oily eyelids I'm afraid. I found the holographic pigments were too chunky and the creams too oily. On my cheeks it highlighted every pore and whilst I loved the blue and greens on my eyes they're definitely something I'd need to apply over a base to give them a chance of holding.

If I was heading to Ibiza, festivals or had some such event on the cards I would be inclined to keep hold of this but otherwise it's heading to my sparkle loving sister. I think it's something a more younger person would enjoy although at £10.99 it is perhaps a little more pricey than I would expect to pay.

Likewise the Sleek Make Up Metallic Matte Me Lip Cream* in Roman Copper is just something I won't be rocking in the office but do like nonetheless. If I were heading off on my holidays or perhaps still in my redundancy then I'd find myself wearing this more over the Summer and it has a great pigment and metallic shine whilst still comfortable to wear. I am currently trying to streamline my make up collection and working on lips at the moment and I have faced facts that I do not enjoy a matte nude lip, but throw this metallic lip cream over the top and I'm good to go. These lip creams are only priced £4.99 and currently on 3 for 2 so they're a more affordable way to follow the trend this Summer.

Next is a 'dupe' for the beauty blender and the B. Blending Sponge* which I think on first appearances most of us would be unable to tell the difference. Having developed such a love for my Beauty Blender and being put off by the B. Sponges firmness in comparison it took me some weeks before I finally got to working with this affordable version. At just over £3 this is a worthy contender, even just for use on those in between days when you're washing your tools. I've found I have to dampen the B. Blending Sponge more so than the higher priced version but with a dowsing of Mac Fix+ it's doing great things especially for blending my concealer.

Finally is a product from the much talked about Nip+Fab Make Up range of which I'll have a post coming up next week but today it's the mascara, my favourite product that I'm sharing with you today. The Nip+Fab Make Up Mascara* formula reminds me so much of my once beloved YSL which is perhaps why I'm so in love. From the cone shaped brush which I find makes application a breeze to a thick formula which elongates and curls the lashes that even I ask myself if I'm false eyelashes. As mentioned its formula really reminds me of YSL so much so in the latter weeks I've been using as it's drying out I feel it getting thicker and drier - not that it's affecting it's application. We are in the midst of hayfever season right now but I can't believe I'm not experiencing any fall out or smudging from this mascara - it could very easily become a holy grail and is certainly filling the gap since I said goodbye to Tartes Lights Camera Lashes.

What new make up have you discovered this month?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

New In | Summer Fragrances

Yardley London state in their about me page that they are famous as a purveyor of luxury fragrances and soaps and admittedly that would be why I would dismiss them, as someone I'd only visit to purchase talc and soap for older relatives at Christmas time but that is about to change with the arrival of Yardley London English Freesia to the Floral Classics Fragrance collection.

My first instinct was that I would not be a fan of to a scent from a 'floral collection' but English Freesia is, as Yardley describe 'a refreshing light citrus floral fragrance' which from first spritz I've enjoyed and thought it another great scent for Summer and as English Freesia is the flower to both celebrate 7th wedding anniversaries and friendship a great gift idea.

Yarley London English Freesia* is a sweet scent and perhaps younger than what I would think from Yardley London but that's once more my preconceived ideas of the brand and these sweet floral scents but thanks to a musky amber background it's something I find quite wearable. As an Eau de Toilette it's not the longest last fragrance and I find myself needing to spray once or twice a day but for under £10 it's not something I mind and quite enjoy the refresh. I also have the complimenting English Freesia Nourishing Hand Cream* which I'd refer to as a 'vanity hand cream' and by that I mean it doesn't keep hands soft and smooth for hours after application but I favour it for that very reason. The scent isn't overwhelming and ideal for sitting on my desk in the office for multiple reapplications throughout the day.

Another fragrance I've been wearing in recent weeks is IXXI Cosmetics Tonnelle Gourmande Fragrant Water* which has notes of fig, blackcurrant, freesia popping up once again and many other notes that I wish I could explain in a more authoritative manner. Once again this isn't the longest lasting scent but during Summer I find I'm prone to reapplying perfume more often if only to protect from the sweaty smells that can linger from some passengers on the London Underground. It's slim bottle is reminiscent of the rollerball perfumes that many stockpile on trips to Sephora but for some reason haven't reached the UK but for me, it's the fact it is a spray and not a rollerball that gives it the thumbs up from me.

What is your favoured Summer fragrance?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

Charging My iPhone on the Go

We've all seen the meme 'my iPhone spends so long on charge it's like having a landline again' it's surprising iPhone's are so popular when their battery life is so bad. Over the years I've spent far more than I'd like on regular chargers and testing out portable versions that I was delighted when I found this one last year.

Since I initially purchased for my trip to Florida it has treated both me and my friends well whilst out and about and on holiday ensuring that battery life was maintained and photos could still be taken and social media duties kept on top of. One of the features most complimented was that it did not require a separate lead due to one being built in.

Since it had such regular use and with a lead being somewhat delicate it has unfortunately led to the need to replace my beloved portable charge. Over recent weeks I've found it's ability to charge lacking and I was starting to fear such was my reliance on, that I'd be caught short whilst out and about so it was time to replace it.

I imagine my horror when I checked online and it was no longer available. Cut panic as I searched for a replacement, not wanting to waste money on something that didn't perform so well and ensuring that any replacement had a built in lead. My search led me to the KOBWA External Battery Power Bank.

The KOBWA Power Bank is not without faults, but focusing on the main function to charge 'on the go' I think this might be even better than the one I had previously. I'll start with what some may deem the negative, certainly as a friend commented recently 'is your charger big enough' and it is indeed somewhat larger, or more thicker than the one before. The KOBWA Power Bank is still in the iPhone sized category although as mentioned thicker and slightly heavier than an iPhone. That said I have been carrying it around in my bag for some weeks now and I've not found it cumbersome or that it is weighing down my bag - I tend to give up my make up bag before I even look at leaving the charger at home. I'll forgive the weight for it's ability to hold many charges.

I find that because of it's ability to hold more charges than my previous charger did I'm not constantly worrying about charging the charger and I can get away with a few days here and then depending on usage. Another extra tick for this portable charger is that whilst the leads fit neatly into the unit creating a 'built in effect' they are removable and have the choice of inserting any lead via a USB with multiple options included with the purchase.

You'll find in your kit a lead for an iPhone and other brands, a friend worrying about her diminishing phone battery on a recent night out was overjoyed when I shared my portable charger with her. Even more so when she replied 'my phones a Samsung' expecting it only to be suitable for iPhones and I was able to show I had an attachment to charge her phone too.

For a compact charger I like that you can adapt and tweak to your needs whether you're using Apple products or other brands. This feature will come in handy when I travel to Florida once again with my brother and his family who are all Samsung phone users - and more importantly we can keep the iPad fully charged for my youngest niece to ensure good behaviour during any hanging around in the Disney Parks.

The KOBWA Power Bank is £22.99 and worth every penny. I'm keen to see how long this charger will last for me as I put them through regular use, using a couple of times a week. Even at home I'll use the portable charger as I don't have a plug socket near enough to keep my iPhone to hand when sitting on the sofa. I find it much sturdier and the leads less delicate so I have high hopes on this handbag and travel staple.

How do you keep your mobile phone charged when you're on the go?

*this post contains affiliate links

Blemish Busting

You may remember last year there was much hype in the beauty community when NikkieTutorials hailed Nivea Post Shave Balm as an amazing budget make up primer. There followed many rave reviews for this product, typically found in men's bathrooms, which was somewhat baffling as it's price was simply comparative to other high street primers but us beauty bloggers do love a bandwagon.

When I stumbled across a bottle in my friends bathroom I asked if I could pinch it and test out 'for the blog' and put to the test this week. If you saw my Instagram post you will know I found it quite underwhelming and worse, it broke me out, which as someone who can usually throw most things at my skin and not experience any adverse effects the Nivea Post Shave Balm received a thumbs down from me.

Today's post is to share how I managed to tackle and get rid of my outbreak in a matter of days but a few additional comments on the Nivea Post Shave Balm as a primer. If you do not like scented products, especially those of a masculine ilk then you will not like this. I actually like the scent and found it dissipated very quickly although I know others comment it lasts longer than they would like.

I found it made my skin shiny and not in a 'healthy and dewy' manner. I could argue that the time of year was not great to put to the test but interestingly other testers say how much it would dry their skins out, something I wish I'd experienced as it certainly did not create any mattifyed effect on my skin. And oh my, my pores were never so clear for all to see. I even tried with my Lottie London Pore Eraser to see if that worked but I just found it pilled on the skin. And how did my make up fair on top of the Nivea Post Shave Balm? I've never seen my foundation separate to such a degree and so quickly as when I had used this. If it needs saying, this product is a no from me.

Moving onto the side effects and break outs that appeared. As I was currently in the midst of using a regular skincare regime and make up products, with the exception of my primer I could only place the blame at Nivea's door.

Thankfully two products that had been added to my regime were Good Things Stay Clear Purifying Cleanser*, ironically a product I only reviewed last week saying break outs were not something I had to worry about. Thankfully having this in my regime to cleanse my skin in the morning and evening allowed my skin to be treated gently when I was conscious of stripping back products and not overloading an already aggravated area. The second was La Roche Posay Serozinc*, another cult product but in this instance one that I can understand. Serozinc is part of the Effaclar which is designed to target oily, blemish prone skin which I needed to tackle. It's also a wonderful toner for oily skins, even those that are marginally so during the Summer and it works far better to mattify the skin.

Finally was Dermalogica Charcoal Masque* a product that was in the forefront of my mind as I am making it my mission to apply face masks more often, if only due to the ridiculous collection I have at my disposal.

Dermalogica Charcoal Masque, as with all masks of this nature, is to draw our excess oil and impurities and calm redness, all things my skin was in need of after experiencing the 'beauty blogger side effects' of testing out new products. Charcoal and clay masks can be found very cheaply and the Dermalogica offering is certainly not budget friendly but compared to other masks of it's nature it is a little more sophisticated and is one of the least messy masks of it's type I've used.

I'm pleased to say having these products in my routine during this break out changed my skins appearance in 24 hours and in 48 hours there was little evidence of any trouble.

What do you use when you have an unexpected break out?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links